Trekking in Ha Giang 5 days 4 nights

Explore colourful ethnic groups and experience the sheer thrill of travelling along stunning roads that you'll never forget. This trekking trip will take you to the most impressive region of Vietnam, and over five days you will discover colourful local markets of the various ethnic minority communities, trek through the soaring mountains and experience the dizzying mountain passes of Dong Van and Ma Pi Leng.

Your guide will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi at around 8am. We will set out towards Ha Giang via Tuyen Quang, passing countless tea plantations, mountains and ethnic minority villages along the way.

You will have lunch at a local restaurant in Tuyen Quang, before arriving in Ha Giang in the late afternoon. Time permitting, you can explore the town and meet the local people before you’re served dinner and stay overnight in a local Tay house.

Today you will begin your trekking adventure by setting out form the homestay in the morning and trekking for about 6 to 8 hours to the village of Lung Vai. Along this trek, you’ll get to take in the beauty of the terraced rice paddies, majestic mountains and serene palm-tree forests. You’ll also run into people from many different ethnic groups along the way, such as Man and Dao, who are generally more than happy to stop and interact with travellers for a short while.

You’ll enjoy a picnic lunch amidst nature before continuing to the remote village of Khuoi My. En route there will be many farmers working in the fields, and if we have the time you can even join in for some farm work if you so desire.

Finally, we move on to Ban Tha Village, where our driver will pick you up and drive you to Nam Dam, where you can enjoy a home-cooked local meal and spend the night in a homestay operated by a Dzao family.

As we set out from Ha Giang after getting our permit from the immigration office, your journey to Dong Van will be filled with spectacular landscapes in the form of a series of long passes. En route you will stop for lunch at the small and beautiful mountain village of Tam Son, before heading to the majestic “King of the H’mong Palace”, a fortress built by a local chief, Vuong Chin Duc, who allied himself with French forces against the Viet Minh. Built in the 1900’s, this palace was designed in the style of ancient Chinese architecture dating to the Qing era, and it was made from materials such as solid stone blocks, wood and terracotta tiles.

You will stop for lunch in the mountain town of Dong Van, before heading out on a 3.5 hour trek to the highest mountain in Dong Van where you can enjoy some truly breath-taking panoramic views. We’ll also visit H’mong, Lo Lo and Giay ethnic villages in this incredible, untouched frontier region.

Rounding out the day, you will be driven back to Dong Van for dinner and a night in a hotel.

After breakfast, you will get to explore Dong Van Old Quarter, before making the trek up to Pu Lo fortress which was built in 1890 and evacuated in 1945. From here you can enjoy spectacular views of the entire region, before climbing 8 km to the top of Ma Pi Leng Pass, through a gigantic maze of limestone peaks, stone forests, and canyons before descending into the valley of Meo Vac.

Once the trekking is done, you will be driven back to Ha Giang for dinner and an overnight stay in a hotel.

On the final day of the tour, we’ll take you along the road less travelled to get back to Hanoi. On this route you’ll follow the rivers as it snakes from pass to pass through the hills of Central-North Vietnam. The locals here are likely to be fascinated by your presence, as the area sees very few foreign visitors, so it’s a great time to interact with the locals and learn about their culture.

Before we reach Hanoi we’ll make a stop in Duong Lam Ancient Village, where centuries old houses can be viewed and explored. Finally we’ll you off at your hotel in Hanoi after stopping for lunch in a local restaurant along the way.

ACCOMMODATION LIST

Please note that the hotels mentioned in this list are for reference only. Depending on availability and your preference, they can be changed. If we are unable to book any hotel, it will be replaced by another hotel at least of equivalent standard and value.

WHAT TO TAKE:
• Pack essentials, including light comfortable clothes suitable for outdoor activities, comfortable walking shoes. Take a small day pack for hiking and trekking.
• It is essential to bring your passport on this trip. We also recommend packing: insect repellent, sun cream, raincoat and sun hat...